What age kids become expensive?

[Glassofredandapackofcrisps]

Just that really. My dd is nearly 2 costs creeping up slightly and so wondering is it a gradual rise or does it come as a massive shock around a certain age? Thank you!

I would turn it around and say they are cheapest bw the ages of 4 and 11. Teens and toddlers are both expensive for different reasons.

People say teenagers are expensive but I will not be spending thousands per month on mine so for me young children are more expensive.

"Young children will grow, they'll need more expensive adult size clothing and shoes, eat more, have to pay adult prices for tickets and travel. Regardless of you planning on not spending more they will cost more than younger children. I have two primary children and two teens. The teens cost more."

I am on a career break so my young children are currently costing us £45,000 a year plus anything we spend on them. So I am quite certain that teenagers will not cost me more. I did say 'for me young children are more expensive'. I know some people have free childcare or pay less than £1000 a month for theirs. I do think anybody spending £1000 or more on childcare or giving up that in wages and paying for kids' activities and clubs etc on top of that will still find they spend less on teenagers unless they choose to spend thousands a month on teenagers and surely only the very rich do.

The childcare years were the most expensive. I'm glad those years are over!! My teenager doesn't cost me any more than my primary age DC does.

The biggest expense to me has been the lost job opportunities and promotions because I was restricted to working when childcare was available and as they got older making sure that I was around for at least some of the time. So that was from birth right through to the end of college.

The biggest cost is either full time childcare (would have been £3k pm for two if they'd been at nursery same time although luckily age gap meant our two weren't) or the loss in salary of one partner giving up work or going part time plus losing their place on a career path .

The latter is often forgotten and becomes an invisible cost AND many families never recover it. The SAHP never goes back to work full time or in a professional career so that loss compounds with teens being more expensive (see clothing, school trips, gadgets food etc.) A double loss if you will.

For those of us who stayed FT and earned steadily more, the costs are less and less once nursery fees are shed. I have a teen and a nursery age child and the teen (despite expensive trainer habit, sports subs, school trips abroad etc) costs WAY less than little un's nursery fees and party time nanny.

I accept though that university may well change things again ... not there yet.

This is terrifying reading. Mine are 4 and 7 and we only just get by as it is.

I think when they get to around 9 or 10 and start wanting phones/tablets and designer clothes and trainers.

I'm just dealing with the potential expense of DD going to dance college. The tuition fees for where she wants to go are £14,000 per year & that's before we even factor in accommodation etc, which will probably be another £5,000. She can get a maximum of about £6,000 for a student loan. When she finishes in 3 years DS will probably be going off to university, so we'll be starting again.
I remember the days of nursery fees, & thought school days were expensive, but this is a whole new level of expense

When we ordered the children's portions at wagamama and had to get the same again as both girls still hungry...

Errmmm from the time of conception

Dd had a taster session at a drama activity yesterday. Came back high as a kite desperate for more. Hundreds of pounds. Very glad we stopped at 2...

Mine are 5,6 and 8 and costs are creeping up. Just things like more food, they grow out of clothes quicker, club fees etc.

I'm a sahm but no childcare but I did leave a £30k job for it.

I'm sure teenagers will be even worse and more pricey however I don't go mad. Growing up my family were extremely poor so any activities I wanted I paid out my Saturday job. Clothes were only bought when I was in desperate need and meals were basic (and I'm sure my mum often went without to accommodate us). There were 4 of us and none of us went to uni. So I suppose it is possible to do teens cheaply but don't expect to have your teen happy about it. I found it hard and isolating when my friends were all off to the cinema and we couldn't afford the then cost of £1.50 for the ticket. As such I'll do my best to accommodate my kids when they're teens but they're going to have to know we can't do everything they want and tough luck.

Definitely it increases with age..

We have school fees but also dd1 dances 12 hours x week, if you include petrol costs to take her and kit that alone is 200 x month..

All the dcs play musical instruments which averages 200 x month on top, plus cost of music and musical instruments.

Then there are the school trips, phones (even with no iPhone still expensive), school bus is 900 x year for one child.

I worked as a teenager to be able to afford the latest clothes and hobbies. I cost my mum very little! She also provided nothing towards my university education (I worked hard to stay afloat)! I'm wondering if this is quite rare now?

Teenagers.
By far.

Mobile phones, clothes ( have to pay VAT as adult sizes) school trips. Extra curricular activities. Huge amount of food. And putting money aside for University.

I have two in full time nursery, which cost £1,500 per month on average, add to that the nappies, formula, swimming lessons, football, and the fact that the little one still grows out of clothes so quickly and goes through so many a day! I’m looking forward to the primary school years! I can see teens will be expensive too though. Hoping I’ll be earning a bit more by then. If they go to uni, they can get a part time job as I did.

I've found teens to be ok. We gave eldest an allowance. He had to buy all his own clothes (not shoes though as we wanted him to get decent ones). At 13 they can get a job which can cover socialising. School trips are pricey but we miss the stupid ones (skiing!). All school activities outside of hours are free so much cheaper than wraparound. Also no more babysitters!

Also we are lucky enough to have hand me downs still, which he will accept as otherwise he has to buy his own!

At 13 they can get a job

Where can a 13 year old get a job?

I had a lovely childhood full of wonderful experiences. But I got my first Saturday job at 14. My parents never paid for driving lessons, expensive shoes, mobile phone bills. They did save and We’d go abroad to amazing places that were cheap (once you got there) but I didn’t go on school ski trips etc. You see your school mates every day - it really isn’t essential.
I might have moaned a bit when my dad refused to pay whatever ludicrous amount the new nike trainers I wanted were but I didn’t really feel hard done by at all. I would just try it on.
Expensive school trips, designer clothes, driving lessons are all very optional expenses. Let alone helping with house deposits and wedding costs!!
I say this as a graduate living in london - im not in denial as to hard it is.

I don't think teens are expensive. My DS1 wasn't really. We did spend a lot on birthdays and Xmas the older he got, but my working hours weren't restricted and I had no childcare costs by then.

The pre school years for childcare and for me part time work
And now the teen years Phones,holidays,clothes,social life
But I suppose that's what I work for

People saying teenagers - are you paying £1000 a month on them? I hoped we were in the most expensive stage with the childcare costs. I can't imagine spending a £1000 on teenagers but I'm no where near that stage

I don't want mine working until they have finished their final school exams

No, the childcare is the most expensive, but I think people are replying in terms of money spent on the child, iyswim.

sleepingin yourflowerbed Have a 14 year old and she has cost me nearly a thousand this month. 500 for a school thing (could have paid in instalments but wanted it out of the way), 150 for her extra curricular activity, various exam fees, phone credit, pocket money and extra money because she was supposed to be my cleaner during half term that didn't work out for me Most expensive month ever. Oh and tonight we're going to see Ladybird later at her request!